Basic Beauty Tips

The Basics:

I realized that maybe some of you coming to us are totally clueless about not just clothes but beauty as well. It only seemed to make sense to pull together a guide to make-up and beauty.

-Always start with a clean face. Find a cleanser that is gentle and is compatible with your skin type. Cleanse your face gently, never scrub or rub hard doing so will aggravate your skin. Never use plain soap to wash your face it will be much too drying.

-Choose a moisturizer that is compatible with your skin type. You will need a day cream that is a lighter formula that contains an SPF and for evening you will need a night cream that is richer and more protective.

-Eye cream!!! This is so important the skin under your eyes is very delicate and needs to be moisturized gently. Find an eye cream to suit your needs and apply it gently to your eye area in the morning and in the evening. You may find that you need a thicker formula for evening and a lighter one for the day. I really recommend that all women use eye cream as soon as they hit their 20’s its great protective care.

-If you don’t have sensitive skin you can safely treat your skin to a scrub on a weekly basis. This will help remove impurities and keep skin looking clear.

Foundation:

Choosing the right foundation:

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get good quality make up. Most drugstore brands are great and provide wonderful coverage.

-Test foundation on the jaw line and see how the foundation looks in natural light. Try on several different shades than walk outside and see how the foundations look in “real” light. The perfect foundation will blend into the jaw practically perfectly.

-Now there are several different types of foundation to choose from there are liquid, powder, mousse and you can even purchase “air-brush” style make-up at stores like Sephora. Your skin type and age will help you figure out which product is best to use. If you are totally lost you could get help at a store like Sephora (if you can afford the makeup). However regular ol pharmacies like CVS now have a Beauty Advisor on staff who can help you select skin care, foundation and make up.

Applying Foundation:

I have a personal belief that using brushes provides the best coverage but there are others who swear by make up sponges and others who swear that using their fingers gives the best coverage. Clearly the sort of foundation you are using is going to dictate what product would be the best to apply the foundation with though when I used to wear liquid foundation I always used a foundation brush.

-Apply foundation to your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin with a makeup sponge, brush or fingers.

-Blend the foundation in light upward strokes towards your hairline. Blend well at the jaw line to avoid a makeup line.

Concealer

If you have blemishes or dark under eye circles DO NOT cake on foundation to cover them instead utilize a concealer. Concealer can be used under or over foundation or on its own. It is a heavier makeup and a little goes a long way.

Choosing Concealer:

There are a few different formulas of concealers available there are solids, liquids and powders. Again the formulation is going to depend on your personal preference. I also do not believe that your concealer must be the same formulation as your foundation. For example I use powder foundation but typically use a solid concealer.

When choosing a concealer chose a shade lighter than your foundation this will help hide darker spots.

Applying Concealer:

-If you are applying concealer under your eyes use a gentle patting motion again you may use a makeup sponge or a brush – I would not recommend using your fingers when applying concealer.

-If you are trying to cover a blemish apply the concealer to the blemish than press with a makeup sponge.

Powder:

Dusting powder over your face will help set your foundation and concealer all day long.

Choosing Powder:

You can choose a translucent powder or select a shade that is a few shades lighter than your foundation.

Applying Powder:

-Simply dip a large powder brush into the powder, shake off excess and apply all over face

To control oil all day invest in either oil blotting papers or oil control powder (this powder is typically blue). Using these oil control products is better than applying more makeup. If you have a buildup of oil on your face and you keep applying powder throughout the day your skin will look cakey. However the oil blotting powders and papers will remove the oil and refresh the makeup.

Okay so now we know how to create a clean canvas so what about everything else on your face, you know your eyes, cheeks and lips? Well let’s cover those next.

Eyes:

Eye makeup is a matter of trial and error and how you apply your makeup is going to depend on your personal style and taste. If you need help choosing eye shadows and eye liners don’t be afraid to try that beauty advisor at the drugstore or get help from the nice folks at stores like Sephora and Ulta.

Eye Makeup:

-Apply a light shade from your eyelid to your brow bone

-Accentuate your eyes by applying a medium shade to the crease of your eye, be sure to blend. Also the darker the shade the more dramatic the look.

-Apply a thin (or thick whatever you want) line of eyeliner along the lash line to accentuate your eyes

-Finish with a few coats of mascara (black mascara looks great with all eye colors). Never pump the wand inside of the mascara tube it will cause air to get inside which will dry out your mascara

Eyebrows:

If you have never had a professional eyebrow waxing I highly recommend that you splurge. At most places you can get an eyebrow shaping for anywhere from $5-$15 it is well worth the cost. What the waxer will do is shape your eyebrows and get them to be the proper shape for your face. Your eyebrows really shape your face and getting them cleaned up makes a huge difference.

Now you could of course continue to have them waxed but if that’s not your thing use their shaping as a guide for you to tweeze. However I think that you may get addicted to the waxing. I never thought I would be the person who would go get her eyebrows waxed but I’m hooked. I can never get them to look as good as the girl who does the for me.

Eyebrow Makeup

If you have sparse eyebrows gently fill in with either an eyebrow pencil or eyebrow powder. Blend the pencil or powder with a mascara brush (you can purchase them at a drugstore) then set with eyebrowshaping gel (it looks like clear mascara).

Cheeks:

Again there are several formulations of blush available there are powders, liquids, stains, mousse, and creams. The formula you choose will depend on your skin type and how much control you want to have over the product. I personally feel too spastic to use stains, liquid or cream blushes. I always feel like I put too much on or put it on wrong so I personally stick to powders. But feel free to explore wearing makeup is supposed to be fun.

Choosing Blush:

Besides blush there are highlighters and luminizers that can be used in conjunction with blush. If you are new to blush it best to start with the basics than move into playing around. You can get help in selecting the right color with help from that handy Beauty Advisor at CVS or from the fine folks at Sephora and Ulta.

Applying Blush:

- Regardless of what formulation of blush you choose you will apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. In order to find your apples smile the part that looks like the side of an apple is the apple of your cheek. You will apply blush at the apple than blend out

-If you want try using a highlighter, luminizer or contour shade you would apply that in the following fashion: highlighters/luminizers should be applied along the top of the cheek bone. What this will do is accentuate the cheekbone and make it seem more prominent and make your face look slimmer. If you want to apply a contouring shade (which would be darker – close to a bronzer shade) you would apply it underneath the apple of the cheek. This will contour the face and will make the face look slimmer and more defined.

-Blend the whole thing well. Remember cheek color is supposed to accentuate not overpower.

Lips:

Choosing Lip Color

There are many formulations of lip color there are lipsticks, lip gloss, lip stains, sheer lipstick, matte lipstick, tinted lip balms, whew there is a lot. Coverage choice here is really up to you and how much of a lipstick kind of gal you are and your age. I personally believe that anyone under 40 should steer clear of lipstick/lip liner type of look. I think it looks too harsh. Younger girls look better with a sheer lipstick, a lip gloss, lip stains or tinted balms. Women over 40 can opt for whatever floats their bloat and works for their style.

I think a good way to select a lip color is to find one that is just a little darker than your natural lip color. This will create a little pop of color and will accentuate your mouth. However you should feel free to experiment and try darker shades or whatever floats your boat. I think by now you know where to go if you need help selecting shades.

Applying Lip Liner

- Begin by applying lip liner at the center of your upper lip. Follow you natural lip line. Extending beyond your lip line is a little too “blow up doll” looking.

-For the bottom lip start by applying the liner at the center of your bottom lip line and spread out.

-When choosing a lip liner select a shade the same color as your lipstick or a shade that is close to your lip color for a more natural look.

Applying Lip Color

-Start in the center of your lip and fan out to the sides, Rub lips together and re apply.

-Remember to keep your daytime lip color light for evening you can of course vamp it up and go a few shades darker.